Why is my Disks Don’t Spin Down After Update

Many users of external hard drives and NAS systems have reported that their disks no longer spin down automatically after a system firmware or operating system update. If your drives continue to spin 24/7 even during long idle periods, it can lead to unnecessary power consumption, increased wear, and reduced drive lifespan. This issue is especially common after updates to NAS firmware (e.g., WD My Cloud OS), Windows, Linux kernels, or macOS.

Let’s explore why this happens and what you can do to fix or work around it.

Why Drives Stop Spinning Down

Disks are designed to enter a low-power idle mode (spin-down) when not in use. However, updates can change this behavior due to:

1. Firmware Changes

Some NAS firmware or external enclosure updates alter how power management is handled. A new default setting may disable spin-down or reset sleep timers.

2. Background Processes

After updates, background services may start accessing the drives regularly. This includes:

Indexing services (e.g., Windows Search, macOS Spotlight)

Cloud sync (e.g., WD Sync, Dropbox, iCloud)

Antivirus scans

Media servers like Plex

Even minor, periodic reads can keep drives awake.

3. Operating System or Driver Bugs

Post-update driver or OS bugs can interfere with Advanced Power Management (APM) or Automatic Acoustic Management (AAM) features that control spin-down timing.

4. Custom Power Settings Overwritten

Your previous drive sleep settings might be reset to defaults. This is common in NAS environments or after BIOS/UEFI updates.

How to Fix It

✅ 1. Check and Reapply Sleep Settings

For NAS:

Log in to the NAS dashboard (e.g., WD My Cloud)

Go to Settings > Power Management

Ensure HDD Sleep is enabled and set an appropriate timeout (e.g., 10 minutes)

For Windows:

Open Power Options > Advanced Settings

Expand “Hard Disk” > “Turn off hard disk after”

Set a timeout (e.g., 20 minutes)

For Linux:

Use hdparm to set APM:

bash

Copy

Edit

sudo hdparm -S 120 /dev/sdX

(Where 120 = 10 minutes. Adjust for your needs.)

✅ 2. Identify Active Processes

Use system tools to monitor disk access:

Windows: Resource Monitor > Disk tab

macOS: Activity Monitor > Disk tab

Linux: iotop or lsof for real-time disk usage

Stop or reconfigure apps that constantly access the drives.

✅ 3. Reinstall or Roll Back Drivers/Firmware

If the issue began after a specific update, check the manufacturer’s website for:

Rollback options

Patches or updated firmware

Community forums discussing the issue

✅ 4. Use Third-Party Utilities

Tools like CrystalDiskInfo, WD Drive Utilities, or smartctl can force spin-down behavior or monitor disk activity and temperatures.

Conclusion

When disks don’t spin down after an update, it’s usually due to changed system behavior, background services, or firmware modifications. By reviewing power settings, disabling unwanted processes, and using system monitoring tools, you can restore proper spin-down functionality and extend your drive’s life.